UN humanitarian chief calls for freeze on cluster bombs

The United Nations’ top humanitarian official today demanded an immediate moratorium on the use of cluster bombs, a day after the international Red Cross stepped up its campaign against the weapons by calling for their outright abolition.

“As long as there is no effective ban, these weapons will continue to disproportionately affect civilians, maiming and killing women, children, and other vulnerable groups,” said Jan Egeland, the UN under-secretary-general for humanitarian affairs.